Nursing Home Abuse LawyerColumbia, MO

Fighting Negligence and Abuse in Nursing Homes

Nursing Homes and Long-Term Care facilities stake their reputations on trust and dependability, and that’s why you choose the facility that you did. Unfortunately, your family member has been abused by the very care providers that were entrusted with their care. You need a Personal Injury Lawyer in Columbia that has experience fighting Nursing Home Abuse Lawsuits. Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Columbia fights to protect the rights of nursing home and assisted living center residents, and we fully and aggressively pursue all businesses or individuals who harm those who can’t care for themselves. We have the experience that your family needs to fight this Nursing Home Abuse lawsuit, and we won’t stop until the business or individual who harmed your loved one is held fully responsible for their actions. We never charge to discuss your case, and you won’t owe our lawyers any fees unless we win your nursing home abuse claim. Call or contact our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Columbia now.

Gary Burger | Trial Attorney

Gary Burger is devoted to helping injury victims recover from devastating accidents in Missouri and Illinois. Gary practices all areas of personal injury law and has been successful in providing financial recovery while aiding in the protection of our clients' future.

How can I tell if my loved one is being abused in a nursing home?

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Neglect and Abuse are identifiable by a series of signs that will show if your loved one is being mistreated. Does your family member look emaciated? They may not be eating, or their caregiver might not be feeding them. Do you see red sores or skin issues appearing on your loved one? They aren’t being moved or rotated, and now they are developing sores because of it. Is your loved one unwilling to work with certain staff members or appear afraid? The staff may be abusing them. Here are several signs that can indicate your loved one isn’t receiving the care they are owed.

1. Nursing Home Abuse Malnourishment

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This is one of the more visibly apparent forms of nursing home abuse. If their skin is sunken, and they look tired and lethargic, or they appear emaciated, they may not be getting the food or nutrition they need. You’re paying for your loved one to be taken care of, not abused and punished. This is not ok. Negligence and abuse are never ok, and you can sue the nursing home in court. What are other clear signs of possible malnourishment? Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Columbia have identified these conditions as possible signs of malnourishment:

Skin Issues – The skin will take on a yellow hue, and in darker complexions, the skin may appear dull and heavily wrinkled. An additional warning is that the skin under the fingernails will take on a pale hue.

Mouth Sores or Discoloration – If the mouth appears bright red, or if cankers sores are present, your loved one may be malnourished. Yeast infections or thrush infections are also a sign, and cause white patches to develop on the cheeks and tonuge.

2. Nursing Home Abuse Bed Sores

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Bed sores are common in people who are bedridden or spend most of their time in a wheel chair. These wounds develop from pressure and lack of blood flow, and can cause the loss of limbs and life. If your loved one developed bed sores while in an assisted living facility, they were most likely not moved regularly, and were given neglectful or no attention. Bed Sores are even common in intensive care units. Bed Sores are not a guaranteed ailment, and are easily avoidable when residents are given the care and attention they need. Here are the different stages of bed sores our nursing home abuse lawyers in Columbia have identified that can show your loved one may have bed sores:

Stage 1. Bed Sore – The skin is red, warm to the touch, and your loved one may find it itchy or is already itching it.

Stage 3. Bed Sore – The sore or blister is now at a more dangerous stage, and is causing a wide cavity to open in the flesh.

Stage 4. Bed Sore – Bones, muscles and ligaments are visible at this stage, and infection is nearly guaranteed.

These types of sores are easily preventable. If your loved one’s care provider was giving them the care and attention they deserve, then your loved one would not have developed blood sores. You can sue for bed sores, and you absolutely should. Negligence is never ok, and should never be accepted regardless of what excuse the nursing home or long-term care facility gives you. Call our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Columbia now. We’ll make sure your loved one gets the care and recovery they deserve.

Here is a short video about Bed Sores and what you can do about them.

3. Nursing Home Abuse or Mistreatment

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Abuse isn’t always apparent, and your loved one may either not be willing to admit or not able to admit that they are being abused. Nursing home abuse does happen, and it’s never easy to hear that the assisted living home you trusted abused your loved one. It is never acceptable, and is often illegal. Here are several signs to look for when you suspect your loved one is being abused or neglected:

Financial Exploitation – This type of abuse can be hard to catch. {Higher than normal credit card bills, missing checks, or Wills that have been recently altered could be clear signs of financial exploitation of your loved one|If their credit cards are maxed out, if they are missing checks, or their will has been altered and you weren’t alerted, this is a clear sign of exploitation|If their checks have gone missing, if their credit cards are being declined, and if any of their other finances appear to out of order, these can be signs of exploitation|The signs for this type of abuse will be altered wills, mysterious power of attorney forms, maxed out credit cards, and missing checks.

Neglect – The signs for this type of abuse are a lack of bathing, eating, unsanitary room conditions, or even bed sores. Neglect from a caregiver can also lead to self neglect.

Physical Abuse – Abuse is apparent when your loved one has unexplained scratches, bruises, broken bones, and other physical marks they didn’t have before. Along with a lawsuit, you can call the cops for any sign of physical abuse. Even after the police have made their report, you can still sue the nursing home or assisted living facility. Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Columbia will fight for the recovery and rights of your loved one.

Psychological Abuse – If your loved one is nervous around a caregiver, or is hesitant to talk when they are around, they could be the victim of psychological abuse. This type of abuse can be as violent and detrimental as actual physical abuse.

Here is a short video our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Columbia have prepared:

Are there any laws governing nursing home care?

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The Nursing Home Reform Act details the rights that nursing home residents have. These are not suggestions, they are laws, and have to be followed to the letter of the law. According to the Nursing Home Reform Act, here is a quick breakdown of the rights your loved one can expect:

Freedom from Abuse

Freedom from Restraints

The Right to Privacy

The Right to Accommodation of social needs, psychological needs, physical needs, and medical needs

The Right to Participate in Resident and Family Groups

The Right to be treated with dignity

The Right to exercise self-determination

The Right to communicate freely

The Right to review and participate in any aspect of the care they are receiving and any changes to it

The Right to voice grievances

Your loved one has rights, by law, and if they’ve been violated you can pursue legal action against the Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility that was entrusted with their care. Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Columbia are well versed in the laws the govern nursing homes and the levels of care that residents are entitled to. We can help you and your family if you decide to pursue a claim against the assisted living facility. You have options, and those who harmed your family can be held accountable. Call or Contact Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Columbia now to protect your family.